RESUMO
This study aimed to investigate the safety and feasibility of physical therapy in cytopenic patients undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), and to investigate the effect of physical therapy on physiological functions and quality of life (QOL) in allo-HSCT patients. The study cohort included 321 patients who underwent allo-HSCT. To investigate the safety and feasibility of physical therapy during cytopenia, patients were assigned to the physical therapy group (n = 227) or the control group (n = 94). To determine the effects of physical therapy, patients were divided according to the frequency with which they underwent physical therapy (n = 51 per group). Handgrip strength, knee extensor strength and a 6-min walk test were used as measures of physiological function. Short-Form 36 was used to assess QOL. The physical therapy group had higher rate of achieving engraftment and lower death rate than the control group (P < 0.05). After HSCT, the high-frequency physical therapy group showed significantly less decline than the low-frequency physical therapy group with respect to physical functioning of QOL (P < 0.01). Physical therapy is quite beneficial and can be performed safely and feasibly in cytopenic patients during allo-HSCT.
